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offshorelarge-cruiser

Swan 53

Nautor's Swan · 1987–1995 · Sloop rig

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Swan 53 profile drawing
LOA53'
Beam15.51'
Draft10.2'
Displ.22.0t
Rigsloop
HullFiberglass

Bluewater Evidence · Ocean Proven

95% confidence
Doc.CapableProven

3 named boats of this design have finished ocean races in the official results: Sky (Newport Bermuda Race 2000 as Moonshine, 2002, 2006, 2008), Lady B (Newport Bermuda Race 2002, 2004), Fox (Newport Bermuda Race 2002). John Neal's Boats to Consider for Ocean Cruising lists Swans as a range, rated 3 of 5, warning that the newest models are poorly suited to ocean cruising.

Overview

The Swan 53 is a German Frers design from Nautor’s Swan in Finland, built from 1987 to 1995, with 50 built according to sailboatdata.com. Its place in this catalog rests on its ocean racing record: several boats of the design have finished the Pacific Cup from San Francisco to Hawaii or the Newport Bermuda Race in the official results.

Design and Construction

sailboatdata.com lists the underbody as fin with spade rudder, 53 ft overall on a 43.06 ft waterline, with 15.51 ft of beam and 10.2 ft of draft. Displacement is about 44,000 lb with 18,518 lb of ballast, and the masthead sloop carries about 1,342 sq ft.

Ocean Racing Record

Sky (Jim Reiher) finished the Newport Bermuda Race in 2000 (as Moonshine), 2002, 2006 and 2008. Lady B (Madden) finished the Newport Bermuda Race in 2002 and 2004. Fox (Verney) finished the Newport Bermuda Race in 2002.

Passage records

Sky· Jim Reiher2008

Newport Bermuda Race 2000 as Moonshine, 2002, 2006, 2008

Finished 4 times in the official results.

Source: Newport Bermuda Race official results

Lady B· Madden2004

Newport Bermuda Race 2002, 2004

Finished 2 times in the official results.

Source: Newport Bermuda Race official results

Fox· Verney2002

Newport Bermuda Race 2002

Finished 1 time in the official results.

Source: Newport Bermuda Race official results

Bacci· Lorenzo Vascotto2010

Newport Bermuda Race (2010)

Finished, 13th in Class 6 of the St. David's Lighthouse Division.

Source: 2010 Newport-Bermuda Race final results (ORR)

Skye· Ralph Worthington2014

Newport Bermuda Race (2014)

Finished, 9th in Class 12 of the Cru iser Divisio n.

Source: 2014 Newport-Bermuda Race final results (ORR)

Starbuck2022

Newport Bermuda Race (2022)

Finished, 2nd in Class 08 of the Finisterre Division.

Source: 2022 Newport Bermuda Race results

Lutine2013

Rolex Fastnet Race (2003, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013)

Finished 5 times in the official results.

Source: Royal Ocean Racing Club: Rolex Fastnet Race 2013 results

Sassenach2009

Rolex Fastnet Race (2009)

Finished.

Source: Royal Ocean Racing Club: Rolex Fastnet Race 2009 results

Music· James Blakemore2013

Rolex Middle Sea Race (2013)

Finished.

Source: Royal Malta Yacht Club: Rolex Middle Sea Race 2013 results

Olwyn· Greg Nasmyth2016

Rolex Middle Sea Race (2016)

Finished.

Source: Royal Malta Yacht Club: Rolex Middle Sea Race 2016 results

Jakima2000

ARC (2000)

Finished.

Source: World Cruising Club: ARC 2000 results

Sky2004

ARC (2004)

Finished.

Source: World Cruising Club: ARC 2004 results

Take Five2005

ARC (2005)

Finished.

Source: World Cruising Club: ARC 2005 results

Skye2014

ARC (2014)

Finished.

Source: World Cruising Club: ARC 2014 results

Oda2013

ARC+ Atlantic leg (2013)

Finished.

Source: World Cruising Club: ARC+ 2013 results

Bella Vela2013

ARC+ Atlantic leg (2013)

Finished.

Source: World Cruising Club: ARC+ 2013 results

Lady B· Jack Madden2003

Marion-Bermuda Race (2003)

Finished.

Source: Marion-Bermuda Race 2003 results

Lady B2002

Caribbean 1500 (2002)

Finished.

Source: Caribbean 1500 2002 results

Mistress2006

Baja Ha-Ha (2001, 2006)

Finished 2 times in the official results.

Source: Baja Ha-Ha 2006 results

Triana2024

Ocean Globe Race 2023, crewed circumnavigation

Third overall on corrected time; 28,810 nm sailed in 226 days.

Source: Ocean Globe Race: overall results

Bisou2006

ARC Europe (2006)

Finished.

Source: World Cruising Club ARC Europe 2006 results

Lutine2013

RORC Myth of Malham Race (2003, 2005, 2006, 2013)

Finished 4 times in the official results.

Source: Royal Ocean Racing Club: Myth of Malham 2013 results

Sassenach2009

RORC Myth of Malham Race (2009)

Finished.

Source: Royal Ocean Racing Club: Myth of Malham 2009 results

Lutine2008

RORC Cowes-Dinard-St Malo Race (2007, 2008)

Finished 2 times in the official results.

Source: Royal Ocean Racing Club: Cowes-Dinard-St Malo 2008 results

Sky· Geoffrey Berger2005

Marion-Bermuda Race (2005)

Finished.

Source: Marion-Bermuda Race 2005 results

  1. [1]EditorialWikipedia: Swan 53 Mk II- Baseline specs from the article infobox and text: number_built, rig_i_ft, rig_j_ft, rig_p_ft, rig_e_ft. Identity checked against this page's LOA and beam.
  2. [2]SpecificationsSWAN 53 - SailboatData.com- Dimensions, displacement, ballast, sail area, keel, rig, designer and production.
  3. [3]EditorialNewport Bermuda Race official results- Official results; Swan 53 finishes.
  4. [4]EditorialNewport Bermuda Race official results- Official results; Swan 53 finishes.
  5. [5]EditorialNewport Bermuda Race official results- Official results; Swan 53 finishes.
  6. [6]EditorialJohn Neal - Boats to Consider for Ocean Cruising (Mahina)- Lists Swans as a range ('all models'), rated 3 of 5.
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